HOME AFFAIRS – POLICE & STATISTICS
– 19 October 1999

Dr Julian Lewis: I am sure that the recommendation to which the right hon. Gentleman refers is recommendation (d) of the Select Committee report, which says:

"For 'National Statistics', where integrity is of the utmost importance, we recommend that the ONS take responsibility rather than home Departments."

Does he agree that, in the light of the controversy over the Home Secretary's remarks to the Labour party conference about 5,000 non-existent new police officers, it is disappointing that the White Paper makes no suggestion of reforms relating to the Home Office?